Collapsible table



Aug. 23, 1966 A. BEDOL 3,267,889

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed Feb. 26, 1965 INVENTOR. ALAN 65 oz.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,267,889 COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Alan Bedol,Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to Marshallan Manufacturing Company,Cleveland, Ohio, 21 corporation of Uhio Filed Feb. 26, 1965, Ser. No.435,475 1 Claim. (Cl. 108-157) This invention relates to tables andparticularly to collapsible sheet metal tables.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tablehaving a separable tripod leg unit that may be securely attached to, ordetached from, the table top through interlocking means, requiring notools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible table, ofthe type stated, whose top has spaced studs, on the underside thereof,adapted to interfit slots at the upper end of each of the tripod legs ininterlocking engagement.

Another object is to provide a collapsible table having a table topsupporting structure that is foldable upon itself, to facilitate storageof the table in a minimum space, when in a collapsed state.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible table thatis possessed of a high degree of stability when in its erectedcondition.

Still another object is to provide a novel and facile method ofattaching a foldable frame to a table top, whereby the frame and top areheld against accidental detachment, thereby facilitating the moving ofthe table from place to place, when in its assembled condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable table that issimple, yet sturdy, in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, andpleasing in appearance.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification and claim, together with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible table that is thesubject of the invention, with a portion of the top broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the edge of the table top,illustrated in FIGURE 1, showing how the top and one of its supportinglegs interlock, when the table is in its assembled state;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the assembled table;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the top end of one of the table legs;

FIGURE 5 is a left end view of the same; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the upper half of the leg frame in itssemi-collapsed condition.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in FIGURE 1the collapsible table that is the subject of the invention, broadlyindicated by reference numeral 10;

The table comprises a sheet material top, or tray 12, and a foldabletripod frame 11, the latter being adapted, when in its expandedcondition, to support the top 12 in a horizontal plane.

The frame, or tripod 11, comprises three elongated tubular legs 19, and21, of uniform diameter and length, which are assembled in clusteredrelation and operatively connected to one-another, intermediate theirends, by an encompassing triangular collar 29, as described in my US.Patent No. 3,160,121, issued December 8, 1964.

Each of the legs has affixed to its lower end a tip 28 which ispreferably formed of rubber, plastic, or other suitable non-slippingmaterial.

The tripod 11 and the top 12 may be joined to form the table 10, orseparated and collapsed for compact storage, when not in use.Furthermore, the top 12, itself, may be used as a serving tray when notcombined with the tripod 11.

The top 12 is circular in configuration, and is preferably stamped andformed from a blank of sheet metal, and may have a suitable decorativedesign imprinted thereon.

The formed top has a plane central portion 16 bounded by acircumferential convexo-concave ridge 13, rising above the centralportion 16, which is in turn, bounded by a dependent peripheral rim 15.The curvature of the ridge 13 is such that its inner face 14 meets thecentral portion 16 at a continuous abutment having an inclination ofapproximately 30 to the plane of the central portion 16.

Three, equi-spaced studs 17 are mounted on the underside of the ridgeface 14 at its abutment with the central portion 16, of the top 12, asis seen most clearly in FIG- URE 2.

Each stud 17 has a circular, disc-like, head 18 mounted on the end ofthe neck thereof and spaced outwardly of the concave undersurface of theridge 13, at an approximate angle of 30 to the plane of the centralportion 16 of the top 12.

The upper end of each leg 19, 2t] and 21 is flattened to provide anchorplates 22, 23 and 24, respectively.

Each anchor plate has two intersecting circular holes, or apertures, 25and 26 therethrough, joined through a locking slot 27 whose Width isslightly less than the diameter of the stud neck so that the stud neckcan only be forced therethrough, from one aperture to the other, byexerting lateral pressure. In other words, the stud neck cannot passfreely through the slot 27.

The diameter of the entry aperture 25 is such that the stud head 18 maybe fitted therethrough, while the diameter of the stud retainingaperture 26 is such that it will retain the stud neck therethrough, withthe stud head 18 positioned outwardly thereof, as seen in FIGURE 2.

By referring to FIGURE 3 it will be seen that the entry apertures 25 areto the right of the longitudinal axes of legs 19 and 21, and to the leftof the longitudinal axis of leg 20, for a reason to be explainedhereinafter.

To secure the legs 19, 20 and 21 to the top 12, the top is placed on aflat surface with its underside facing up, as seen in FIGURE 3.

The tripod 11 is then expanded and the anchor plates 22, 23 and 24 ofthe legs 19, 2t) and 21, respectively, are positioned over the table topstuds 17 with their entry apertures 25 aligned with the stud heads 18.Each anchor plate is then pressed against the top ridge 13 until thestud heads 18 enter and pass through the anchor plate entry apertures25.

With pressure still maintained the anchor plates 22 and 24 are movedclock-wise, as seen in FIGURE 3, to move the stud neck from entryaperture 25 through lock slot 27 into retaining aperture 26. Then theanchor plate 23 is moved counter-clockwise to similarly move itsassociated stud neck from entry aperture 25 through lock slot 27 intoretaining aperture 26.

The leg anchor plates are now in locked engagement with the studs 17 dueto the fact that each anchor plate is held in pressed engagement againstthe underside of the top ridge abutment wall 14 by the stud heads 18,which cannot pass throughthe anchor plate retainer apertures 26, whichsnugly surround the stud necks now positioned therethrough.

The so assembled table 10 may now be lifted by its top 12, and turnedupright, without danger of the tripod unit 11 becoming separatedtherefrom.

The tripod unit 11 can be intentionally removed by reversing theassembly procedure, just described.

When the table 10 is in its dis-assembled condition, the tripod legs maybe collapsed against one another, as seen in FIGURE 6, for storage withthe top 12 in a small space.

However, due to the fact that the leg anchor plates 22 and 24 must bemoved in a direction opposite to that of anchor plate 23, fordisengagement, the several anchor plates react against one another toprevent accidental, or unintentional, disengagement of the legs.

Furthermore, the studs 17 cannot move from retaining aperture 26 toentry aperture 25 unless intentionally pressed through lock slot 27,which does not offer free passage for the stud 17.

It will now be clear that there has been provided a device whichaccomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is tobe understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described andillustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense, as theremay be other forms or modifications of the invention which should alsobe construed to come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A collapsible table, comprising in combination, a circular sheetmaterial top having a plane portion bounded by a circumferentialconvexo-concave ridge rising above the central portion, the ridgedefining a continuous circular abutment at the central portion atapproximately 30 to the plane of the under-side thereof; three,circumferentially spaced, headed studs mounted on the underside of thetop, at the circular abutment, with their heads spaced outwardly of theabutment in a plane inclined at approximately 30 to the under-side ofthe top central portion; three support leg elements, arranged inclustered relation within a collar positioned intermediate the ends ofsaid legs, and adapted to hold said legs in either expanded or collapsedpositions; each leg having a fiat anchor plate, at the upper endthereof, extending crosswise of its longitudinal axis; each anchor platehaving two intersecting holes therethrough defining a first, stud entry,aperture and a second, stud retaining, aperture, positioned on oppositesides of the longitudinal axes of the legs, joined through a lock slot;the diameter of the first aperture being greater than that of the studhead, the diameter of the second aperture being less than that of thestud head; theentry and retaining apertures of one of the leg anchorplates being reversely positioned relative to the longitudinal axis ofits leg, to those of the other two leg anchor plates; the severaltable-top studs being adapted to be inserted through the leg anchorplate first apertures, when the legs are in their expanded positions,and moved laterally thereof through the lock slots into the secondapertures, whereat the leg anchor plates are pressed between thetable-top abutment and the stud heads, to secure the top and legstogether in interlocked engagement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 799,455 9/1905Cornell 108118 1,378,613 5/1921 Putman 248432 1,940,565 12/1933 Schott108159 2,859,080 11/1958 Botnik 108159 X 3,160,121 12/1964 'Bedol108-157 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,101 6/1957 Belgium.

335,326 3/1921 Germany.

593,520 5/1959 Italy.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. McCALL, Assistant Examiner.

